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Month: July 2015

My family lost the furry member of our family this month. She meant a great deal to us, and just how much so probably wasn’t even realized until we had to let her go. You see, she had come into our lives at a moment of transition. The oldest child in the family had just moved out on her own, and the family was adjusting from the day-to-day of living as a family of six to living as a family of five. It was the perfect time to add another member of the family to the home.

Mia was her name. She was special in so many ways. She had a lineage of national and international champions, and she was bred for greatness. A small genetic defect that effected her height and made her a little too short for the AKC standard for Labrador Retrievers is what brought her into our family at ten months. With her prospective future of being a champion in her own right being forgotten, she became a champion of sorts in our own family. I’ll never forget how excited I was when I found out we were finally getting a family dog. My mom poured over information online, and I was so happy to help her look into breeds and breeders. When it came up that a Labrador Retriever breeder we had been looking at had a 10 month old puppy that was for sale after no longer be eligible to be a show dog, we decided to take her, and she was a perfect fit for our family.

Mia was beautiful…absolutely stunning. With her chocolate eyes and beautiful, black fur, she was a quiet girl from the beginning. Her mild temperament fit our family to a tee. After some discussion, it was decided she would sleep in my room. She didn’t need to sleep in a crate for long, and soon, we were fast friends. I loved having her in my room. Even her loud snoring endeared her to me. She was shy at the beginning…it took our family two weeks to hear her bark for the first time. She was outside, at the fence, and she let out a single bark at the mischievous poodle mixes next door. You’ve probably never seen anyone as excited to hear a dog bark as we all were in that moment.

Mia was so gentle, yet we discovered her massive strength quickly. She would run “laps” around the house when she got really excited, and hearing her bang into the wall reminded one just how strong she really was. Her wagging tail made a bang-bang-bang noise against the dryer. I remember the first few weeks after we got her…my brother & I would get her up at 6 am and we were convinced her tail wagging over “breakfast!” would wake the entire house. When she was young, she would nip in excitement. Her bite was strong, so we taught her the term “nibble” and she would literally nibble at her toys or the hem of our clothing in excitement. One night, she took off chasing something in the backyard. We promptly heard a “squeak!!” and immediately called her in. She looked kind of funny, and we suddenly noticed a little brown leg sticking out of her jowls. We told her to “leave it”…and she spit out a bunny. The bunny was completely unharmed. Mia had caught it, but she hadn’t hurt it. She was just so careful with it. On more than one occasion, we discovered that “indestructible” toys weren’t so indestructible, and she liked tearing the stuffing out of more than one toy with a squeaker she especially wanted to get at, yet she was so very gentle with everything living she came in contact with. When my niece was a newborn, Mia was gentle and cautiously excited…it was like she completely understood it was a baby and that she needed to be very gentle.

Mia loved comfort. She discovered she could jump on my bed at night, and despite her large size, she jumped with the stealth of a cat and never woke me in doing this (save one time…which was hilarious. She looked at me guiltily and jumped off promptly). I would simply wake up the next morning to see a large ball of fur at the end of my bed. Once I accepted her sleeping on the bed, she began jumping up on the bed as soon as it was bedtime. I woke up with her face next to mine, on the pillow, on more than one occasion as she grew to love the comfort of sleeping in a bed. She loved her “cozy corners” in the house and would always work to fit herself it a corner- even if it was a bit too small. She loved the blanket she slept on when I eventually moved out and she no longer had a bed to sleep on, and she loved laying on the rugs around the house.

Mia loved food. She really, really, really loved food. She had a bit of a weight problem at the beginning of her life, as those eyes sucked everyone in to give her just a taste. In time, we learned to scale back, but it was always a joy to give Mia a little taste of something. She loved popcorn, peanut butter, and the taste of grilled meat my dad occasionally treated her to. Whenever I would make gingerbread cookies (which contain molasses), she would stand at the entrance to the kitchen and drool away. Something about the smell of molasses drove her crazy, and she would even try to enter the kitchen, from time to time, which was very unusual behavior for her. She loved getting peanut butter in her Kong, and pizza crust was her favorite. For the dog that ate everything, I about laughed until I cried when she spit out lettuce.

Mia was a genius. She had lived at the breeder’s home prior to making her home with us, so she was used to ten months of being with a bunch of other dogs and going where she pleased. My mom wouldn’t stand for Mia wandering underfoot in the kitchen during mealtimes and during food prep, so Mia quickly had the opportunity to show us how smart she was. The complex concept of “no kitchen” soon was a familiar one, and Mia understood and held to the boundaries of the kitchen. We were all so impressed that it wasn’t long before we started teaching her more tricks. When she was about five years old, I added up all the commands and terms she knew, and the number was around 300 at that time. I would approximate that she knew roughly 450 commands and terms by the end of her life. She was brilliant. She was so obedient, she would sit with food on her nose until you said “Okay.” One time, something happened and we had to go take care of it at the other end of the house…we came back, having forgotten about the trick, 40 minutes later, to sweet Mia with a pool of drool by her paws and the food still sitting atop her nose.

Mia also had a mischievous streak, which rarely showed itself. Having earned the term “Perfect Puppy” in our home, the times she acted up are truly memorable, and we laugh about them to this day. We hadn’t had her more than a few days when she tried to eat a side of ham off the counter. My dad’s “NO!” from across the kitchen was all she needed to know to never try that again. She showed her digging skills shortly after arriving in a truly astounding show of digging mastery. She went in a 360 around a spot in the yard where a stump had once been, and literally, within just a few seconds, she had made a hole about two feet deep. We watched in stunned amazement only a few short seconds before realizing that was problematic behavior, and, once again, a single “no!” is all it ever took for Mia to know to never try that again. She truly could have “dug to China”, as one person once said about the Labrador’s digging ability. Lastly, she jumped up on the dining room table, after a couple treats sat on the table for a couple days. We had all forgotten, but that smell must have tempted her out of her mind…she finally gave in and we all couldn’t believe our eyes when we walked out of the hallway to see our full-sized Labrador Retriever on top of the dining room table, gobbling down the treats.

Mia was a comforter. I remember when I had the virus from hell and eventually had to go to the hospital to rehydrate. For those two weeks, she stayed by my side. I remember when my mom had an allergic reaction and Mia faithfully stayed by her side as she lay on the couch all evening. We would call her “Nurse Mia” in those moments…she would get so silent, sit down riiiiight next to you, and simply put her head down right by you and look up at you with those large, feeling brown eyes. After surgeries, sicknesses, and diseases….Mia was always there. She never pushed you or hurt you…she truly helped nurse you back to health.

Mia’s eyes could talk. It’s one of the things we miss most, now. Mia could look at you and you could see the depths of her soul and it is as if she could read your heart. I remember going through a tough ending of a relationship, one of those moments most teenagers go through. I sat one the floor of my bedroom and cried, holding onto her neck. She sat there and let me cry for as long as I wanted. She didn’t go away. She didn’t lay down. She sat there and let me cry, as if she understood.

Mia was a part of our family. She was there as every child in our family became an adult…from the oldest child getting on her feet and eventually getting married to the youngest child preparing to be on her own. She saw all of us transition into adulthood. She supported my parents and she supported us. She was always there. My niece and nephew loved her. She was faithful and true, and she was our friend.

Mia spoiled us. I have always loved dogs, but, especially as I became an adult and traveled and met friend’s dogs, I found that no dog was like Mia. These dogs jumped and yapped and nipped. These dogs didn’t hold your gaze. These dogs weren’t Mia. Mia, in my biased opinion, was the dog of all dogs.

Mia’s health began declining awhile ago, as she aged, but it wasn’t until this year we started seriously realizing the time was nearing. A couple weeks before we said goodbye, she really turned a corner. It became real and tangible and certain- she wouldn’t see 2016. I’ve lived on my own for several years now, and I have my own family and my own home. I couldn’t believe the impact the news had on my heart. I’ve always loved Mia, and I would tell anyone she is “my girl”, and that hasn’t changed since I got married. She was such a huge part of my life that my first social media account (in the times of MySpace) was “miasroomate” (misspelled in my young age). I taught her tons of the tricks she knew. I was impacted to the core to realize I was going to have to say goodbye. As I considered why, I realized the vital role in our lives Mia had taken.

Mia had been a gift from God for a season of transition in the lives of everyone in our family. In a large way, all four children in our family transitioned into adulthood during Mia’s time in our family. Mia was there for the ups and downs of growing up. She was there when we cried, and she was there when we laughed. She was there when we hurt, and she was there when times couldn’t be better. She loved us with an unconditional love that truly reflects God’s love for us. And when it was time to put her down, it was time to show her that same love.

We didn’t want to say goodbye. Most of us got to be there, and we all sat with her, hugged her neck, cried, said goodbye, and were there with her as she drew her last breath. It was hard. It brings tears to my eyes now. But we knew she was in pain and it was time, and for all the times she was there for us, it was time to be there for her.

The memories of Mia are sweet. I now have the table she jumped on top of to get the treats, and her nail marks are visible, in the right light. There is a certain understanding between people who have lost a dear pet, and it is something that is hard to understand without going through it yourself. It’s a bittersweet camaraderie of sweet memories and pain-filled moments of knowing it is all in the past.

I can’t say I know how to best come to closure over all Mia meant to me and my family, but I believe celebrating what she meant and the way God blessed us though her is a great way to start. This single post can’t sum up all Mia meant, but it can forever be a memory of some of it. In the words of my father….Mia, “Thanks for the memories.” We will always love you and thank God for the time we had with you.

Pets mean so much to us. They are truly furry members of our families. We celebrate our pets and all they mean to us. We love them…and then we let them go. Yet, it is so worth it. I am so glad I had Mia and I am so thankful she was a part of my life for the season I got to have her.

Sometimes, spaghetti gets a bad wrap for being a quick fall-back meal. But, let me tell ya… When it’s done right, it’s a beautiful thing! To me, it’s the ultimate comfort food. This recipe has been a favorite of mine for almost 20 years (and I’m only 25… ha!) and even those that aren’t moved by spaghetti truly enjoy this sauce. It’s rich, hearty, and slightly sweet.

I have no idea where this recipe comes from originally, but I do know that my Aunt June shared the recipe with us. (If you ever need a good recipe, just ask my Aunt June. She has a special knack.)

It’s ideal to let the sauce simmer for about an hour, but it’s almost as good if you need to rush the process just a tad. I promise you won’t be disappointed. I almost always double the sauce – the leftovers work well for making a simple chicken parmesan.

Money. We all need it, we all have it, we all spend it. But what is the difference between those who build fortunes and those who live paycheck-to-paycheck? I wrote a post a couple months ago about basic budgeting, which is where we all should start with our money. You can read that post here.

Once you are living on a budget, it is time to make a plan for spending, saving, and investing. These three actually have a very symbiotic relationship, yet it is very important to recognize the differences between these three.

Spending is necessary for living. Spending is also necessary for buying things that could be termed as investments in their own rights- cars, houses, stocks. Saving is necessary to build up the money for these things. Investing is necessary for creating an income beyond what we can make and save on our own. Investment involves risk.

Here is a broken-down, quick overview of spending, saving, and investing, and how to know when it is time to do each one:

SAVING

Once you are living within a budget, it is time to begin saving. Saving comes first, before spending or investing, and is an important part of making sure you are set up in the most financially secure position you can be. Many well-known financial advisors, including Dave Ramsey (known for Financial Peace University) and Suze Orman (of The Money Book), advise that you build up an emergency cache of savings, from as little as $1000 to as large as one month’s worth of living expenses. Once you have this emergency fund, it is advised to save between 6-12 months of living expenses to have as a buffer between your month-to-month budget and that emergency savings account. Note that if you are regularly delving into your savings account, your budget should probably be reworked. The best way to save is to budget an amount to purposely put aside to save on a monthly basis, although those who live on an irregular income (such as those of us in sales) may find it more realistic to save a portion of bonuses to put aside.

Once you have saved up your regular savings account, it is time to start saving towards your big purchases. Is it time to buy a new car? What about a home? Begin putting aside money monthly to go towards these purchases. If you have been paying off debt, you can apply the amount you were spending on debt every month towards these saving funds, once you finish paying off the debt.

SPENDING

Spending…it’s fun to spend with wisdom. It’s time to spend when you saved the amount you have planned on having for a car or home or vacation. Spending is a time of enjoying the fruits of your labor, and when you spend after you have saved, it is both guiltless spending and very rewarding. The key to happy spending is to only spend what you have set aside to spend. Do your best to spend without touching your regular savings account or using credit, and you will find that spending becomes much less stressful.

INVESTING

With staggering statistics like 76% of Americans living paycheck-to-paycheck, it is no wonder that so few people know anything about investing. Investing separates the boys from the men. While everyone tried to save and spend, investing can actually change the way you live. Investing in stocks and beginning to get dividends can have a huge impact on one’s life, and differentiating the kinds of businesses invested in can create more security in those investments. Investing should always use money you don’t need right now, as it is a downpayment for a future payout, if all goes well. Successful investing takes time. It is rarely simple, but it is worth it. I recommend finding someone to help you invest, especially if you have never done it before. Finding a financial planner, companies that make it their business to help people invest, or even books on investing are all great places to start on the road to investing. Darren Hardy has a great book about the principles of investment, both with time and money, called The Compound Effect.

We live in a society that rarely thinks about the future and doesn’t plan well, financially, in general. Changing the way you live will take work, but the principles are really very simple.

If you are looking to change the course of where you are headed financially, and you need more help than the very simple tips in today’s post and in my budgeting post, I highly recommend Dave Ramsey’s Complete Guide to Money. Dave Ramsey is a world-renown financial advisor and his books are very easy to understand and follow.

Wanting to know more about the emergency fund? Read our post about why, what, and how here.

Please note that some of the links in this post are Amazon Affiliate links. If you order through these links, your cost will remain unchanged, but our blog will receive a small referral bonus. Thank you for helping support this blog and helping us to continue bringing you fresh content!

Several summers ago I was asked to help with a local church’s childcare program. It sounded like a good opportunity, so I took them up on it. When they asked if I had an age group preference, I knew exactly where I wanted to be – right in the thick of the 2-4 year olds! I love those ages!

Fast forward a bit and you’ll find me with my very own toddler! You know what? I am more in love with this age than ever before. Earlier this year, my little boy became a big brother. The fun has multiplied times two – and so has the challenge of making my toddler feel loved and special.

In my vast mommy-of-a-toddler experience (he’s two), I have found 7 things that speak volumes of affection to my little guy. I love watching his eyes light up, his personality come out, and his love tank fill up as we do these things together…

Seven Ways to Fill Your Toddler’s Love Tank….

Talk with them. Take time to hear what they’re thinking, what’s bothering them, their little bits of baby wisdom, their funny sayings, and their sweet “I luff yous”.

Look them in the eye. Those beautiful, sparkling eyes are full of adventure and admiration. Soak it in. Connect with them through eye contact! (Side note: Please don’t expect your children to look you in the eye when you’re speaking if you do not first practice this common courtesy with them.)

Smile. You’ll likely receive a awfully sweet smile in return, too!

Slow down. Take time to walk at their pace – little legs can’t cover as much ground as you can. Take time to explore – little eyes and hands are so curious. Take time to help them understand – little minds are so eager to learn.

Have a reading marathon. When my second son was born, my toddler and I both loved snuggling up with the new baby and reading book after book. My favorite memory is the Dr. Seuss marathon we had together. We both had so, so much fun and Big Brother’s love tank was full to the brim, even with the constant demands of a new baby.

Play with them. Enjoy their little world! Find out what things fascinate them (right now, my toddler is all about wheels!). Foster creativity and imagination.

Take them on a date. This really doesn’t have to be anything fancy. The one-on-one time is what I’m after here. My little guy still talks about our last date – a quick trip to the pet store to pick up a few things for the dog.

Toddlers are special people with big, deep feelings. Leave a comment and tell us the ways you fill your child’s love tank!

“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” -President Harry S Truman

Reading: it’s one of those things most of us want to do more of and few of us make time for. Reading makes us sharper, better, more educated, (hopefully) more balanced, and better informed. There are a million reasons to read and at least a million books we could benefit from reading.

I love to read. I read 96 books in a single school year when I was about 12 years old. I adored reading and read every chance I could get. Then, I grew up, and there was no more time for reading. Between work, ministry, family, and school, extracurricular reading was put on the chopping block.

Then, I became an entrepreneur. Everything about entrepreneurship preaches the importance of reading. I agree, it is vital to one’s self-development. But still, I had no time for anything not related to work, ministry, family, or school. Then, I read a brilliant tip that has stuck with me.

Setting aside 15 minutes- with absolutely zero distractions- to dedicate to reading on a daily basis gives you 1 hour and 45 minutes of reading per week. Even if you miss a day, that’s an hour and a half of reading time per week. Guess what? It works! Taking 15 minutes a day and dedicating them to distraction-free reading is a fantastically successful tactic for adding reading back into the schedule of a busy person. One hour and 45 minutes a week will get you through books at a good pace and help keep your mind sharp and active.

Try it for a week and see how it works for you! I find that easy-to-remember times like first thing in the morning, one’s lunch break, or last thing in the evening works best to help make it a habit.

Ten little fingers. Ten little toes. Tiny baby bundled in a blanket. They just cuddle with you and lay in their little bed.

And then something called “mobility” comes. All of a sudden you see danger signs and caution tape everywhere!

As a mama of a rambunctious 2 year old and a crawling, pulling-up 6 month old, I know a little bit about what household dangers are and how to make your home safe without feeling like you live in padded cells. Whether you are a mama, grandparent, baby sitter, or you just occasionally host friends with young children, here are some helpful baby-proofing tips….

Cover the plugs. You can get dozens of little plug covers for just a couple of dollars and it takes just a few minutes to install these in your entire house.

Cleaners. This is a two-part tip:

Use “green” cleaning products. My favorite is the Thieves Household Cleaner from Young Living because it’s incredibly versatile, effective, and affordable. You can also find some natural cleaning products at your grocery store (Target has a growing selection), health food store (such as Sprouts), or online (Soap.com is a good resource).

Keep your cleaners out of reach. Either use a cabinet latch on your cleaning cupboard or move your cleaners to a high shelf. Even crawling babies can get into cleaners.

Corners. Take a quick walk through your house and look for corners that may find little heads. Kitchen tables, coffee tables, and fireplace hearths are common boo-boo culprits. You can find foam corner and edge protectors (that even match the surface of your furniture!) to ease the impact.

Baby gate. Whether you use it to keep the baby in or keep the baby out, this one is a must-have. You can use a gate to keep younger mobile babies in their room playing while you get dressed for the day, to keep babies out of an area that is set up for a project or job (like ironing… that’s so tricky with a little person around!), or to keep pets and children separated. When not in use, store it in a linen closet or utility room.

Crib height. One day you will walk into your baby’s room and be shocked to find that he is not on the same side of the crib that you left him in. Equally shocking is the morning you walk in to find him standing up in his crib. Make sure you lower the crib mattress when this shocker occurs so Baby doesn’t fall – or climb – out!

Tilting hazards. Bookcases, dressers, TVs, lightweight buffet tables, and more can all look so attractive to little people who are just starting to pull up and walk. Again, take a quick walk through your home to find the furniture pieces that look precarious and anchor them to the wall to eliminate tipping hazards. (These days many pieces of furniture come with anchoring hardware, but if not you can easily find what you need at Lowe’s or Home Depot.)

Doors. A set of knob covers is going to come in handy! Three of the doors in my home have knob covers: the pantry (because I have a curious toddler), our closet (because otherwise our shoes end up all over the house – thank you, favorite toddler!), and our home office (because Daddy needs quiet when he works from home).

Bath safety. As your little ones become bigger, outgrowing their infant tubs and moving to the “big tub”, there are a couple things you’ll find helpful. A tub spout cover will help give some cushion so little noggins aren’t bumped too hard. Sticking a non-slip tub mat will help give little limbs some traction. Finally, if you child is sharing a bathroom with you, make sure items like razors (self-explanatory) or glass accents/candles (you do NOT want glass shards and slippery feet in the same room) are moved far from their reach.

BONUS TIPS
These are not baby-proofing as much as safety tips, but hopefully they are still helpful for new parents.

When cooking, make sure that pot and pan handles are pointed toward the counter or the interior of the stove. For exploring toddlers, handles hanging over the edge are pretty tempting. It is NOT worth serious burns to learn this tip.

Keep plastic sacks off the floor and out of reach.

Keys look like such fun toys! However, they have all kinds of jagged edges, which are particularly dangerous for teething babies who stick EVERYTHING in their mouths. (These are a super fun alternative!)

The pull strings on window blinds pose a big strangling hazard. Take a glance at your windows. If any of the windows are lower to the ground – or if the cord comes to toddler level after raising the blinds, you can install a small Command brand hook right next to the window so the cord will be out of the child’s reach.

Store medications out of reach in a medicine cabinet or upper kitchen cabinet. (Go one better and find natural wellness options, like essential oils and homeopathics!)

A couple years ago, it hit me- being healthy doesn’t have to be complicated. I mean, that’s when it really hit me. I saw the wholesome diet of many people as being an impossible goal. I didn’t think I had money to eat that way or time to live that way. I thought I was doing just okay, and I was satisfied.

Then, the inevitable…I began recognizing the ways my diet was hurting my body and my lifestyle. It was that moment when I realized that I actually did need to eat those greens my mom always told me to eat when I was growing up. That was the beginning of my interest in my wellness and in a healthy lifestyle. Before long, I realized it actually didn’t have to be hard. Being healthy is a series of choices making up a journey, and it’s a wonderful, interesting journey, and no one person’s journey is going to look just like the next person’s.

Here are 8 simple tips I have embraced over the last couple of years that have led me to the much healthier, much more wholesome lifestyle I have today (which is ever-improving as I walk my own fitness journey):

Choose water. My mom really drove home this point in our home growing up, so I have never struggled to drink water. The flip really switched to help me get to where I am now when I realized that by choosing water the mass majority of the time, it was a very simple way to reduce empty or bad calorie intake. As they say, “Don’t drink your calories,” and it really has been a big change in my life that has made me feel and look much healthier.

Drink more water. Really though- drinking more water helps clean your system out and is actually a proven way to lose weight. Most of us don’t drink nearly the amount of water we should every day, and by increasing that water intake, it cuts down on food cravings, helps us eat less, and helps us lose a bit of that extra weight, too!

Don’t buy the things you know you will binge eat. My husband and I instituted this in our home when we got married, and we have kept to it (for the most part- and when we haven’t, we have really appreciated this house rule and gone straight back to it after seeing the binges begin again). I LOVE chips. So much. I can eat chips pretty much all day long, so I know not to buy them unless I have a very specific purpose for them. We try to keep healthy things on hand to munch on if we are TRULY hungry, but we mostly just don’t have snacks in our house. You will also rarely find any kind of drink but water and coffee in our home (and some great Young Living NingXia Red). The fact is, if you love it, you’ll eat it, and if it isn’t good for you, that isn’t the best choice. We know our weaknesses and take steps to protect ourselves from them by simply not having the things around we would binge on.

Be intentional about your “splurge” food days. One of the top reasons we can struggle to change our diets is the fear of losing the foods we enjoy. Now, I’ll tell you a secret- you actually may find yourself lose your taste for the super sugary or super carbed-up meals you once loved after changing the way you typically eat, BUT we all have ooey gooey cheesey or chocolately dishes we just love. Allow yourself to guiltlessly eat those meals you love by creating splurge days. Be smart about how many you give yourself and plan for them to work in tandem for the changes you want to see in your body (for example, if you are hoping to lose weight, 3 splurge days a week probably isn’t the best idea). Some people do weekends, others do one night a week- whatever your decision is, make a plan and stick to it.

Find healthier ways to make your favorite meals. A really easy way to start getting healthier is by changing the way you make those meals you enjoy. You can start small- switch out regular sugar for coconut sugar, or white rice for brown rice, or potatoes for cauliflower. I’ve said it once and I will say it again- Pinterest is your best friend for easy food substitutions. Do you love fried chicken and mashed potatoes? Try pan frying your chicken in coconut oil instead or deep frying it and making mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes. From using spaghetti squash in place of noodles to using cauliflower as pizza crust, there are so many creative ways to make those calorie and carb-packed meals a bit more friendly to the waistline and body as a whole.

Plan your meals ahead of time. I know the drill. Last-minute meal choices rarely equal healthy meal choices. Make a point to plan your meals ahead of time to incorporate the healthy ingredients and recipes you want to make into your menu. Check out my post on an easy way to plan meals ahead of time right here– it includes some great printables to help make this even easier.

Don’t give in to peer pressure. It can be difficult to stay on track when it comes to food and friends. Peer pressure is very real when it comes to diet choices. There are the diet fad friends who want you to join them, the fitness buff friends who can leave you feeling a bit overwhelmed and discouraged by their fitness level, the social eater friends who always want everyone to have dessert or want to eat out all the time, and friends all in between. Decide on the kind of diet you want to have, how that works when eating out or eating at the office, and DO try to have accountability with friends you know will help you stick to what you want to do with your diet plan.

Remember each choice matters….and you are on your own unique journey. I implore you to make the decision not to compare. As mentioned above, we all have friends in about every boat, and remember that what you are doing is for you and for your family and future. Good choices today will impact your tomorrow, and every choice does matter. It’s hardest at the beginning, but in remembering that it’s a journey, you come to recognize the fact that you are making progress, little by little.

The diet is a huge part of our lifestyle and has ramifications far beyond what we weigh, so it is one of the most natural places to begin when trying to life healthier lives. Cleaning up one’s diet doesn’t have to be hard and truly begins with the simple decisions to start making healthier decisions. I hope these 8 tips are of use to you and help you make healthier decisions in your life. Comment below and let us know one “tip” that you live by!

Today I want to share with you a simple recipe for an amazing body butter. It takes only a few minutes to whip together and makes a good amount. It’s easy to make a few different scents or split into couple containers to share with friends.

There are several oils you can add to this butter to create a really luxurious mixture. Consider Lavender for something soothing, Stress Away to help you through the day, or Joy to create a light, naturally-based and perfumed moisturizer. Let your nose and your conscious guide you. 😉

Today I am sharing one of my all-time favorite recipes. This is an absolutely yum-dum meal that is perfect for a family picnic. I first had the recipe many, many years ago, when I was just a child. Originally from Taste of Home, this was not only my birthday meal request as a child but is a big hit in my home now, with my husband and our friends.

I have used this recipe time and time again. Because of way the muffins are formed, it really is a great meal to take on the go or to those who are recovering from surgery or families who have just welcomed a baby. It is adult and child-pleasing, and the uniqueness of the meal makes it a real treat from time to time.

It’s fast, it’s easy, and it is incredibly delicious. It’s an all-American meal, and it has a BBQ flavor. What more could you ask for? Without further ado, here is my slightly adapted version of this yummy meal.

And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop. Mark 11:25 AMP

Awhile back, I was reading one of Joyce Meyer’s devotionals on YouVersion, and the topic was on the verse above. It struck me that so many of us don’t live this way, and simply doing so would be incredibly freeing.

How many of us say that we forgive others? At least a good portion of us do so. Yet, many of us still hold that hurt in our hearts and in our thoughts and muse over those hurtful events. I recognized, when reading this particular translation, that doing so actually fosters bitterness and prevents us from truly forgiving someone. Real forgiveness starts with a willingness to let the hurt go, and when it does come back knocking when someone seems to not be living up to our expectations, we have the responsibility to turn away those thoughts.

2 Corinthians 10:5 says to cast down high imaginations and take captive every thought in obedience to Christ. It is easy, especially for us women, to start letting our thoughts go with imagined stories of how someone is going to hurt us again. We often can let our thoughts run, over-analyzing why someone did what they did and wondering what the hidden intent was. We can dredge up the past, things that happened in ways we didn’t want them to, things that were said in meanness against us, and things that hurt us deeply. The fact is, by letting our imagination go and embracing those thoughts, we are accepting that hurt into our lives all over again. That is exactly why I found Mark 11:25 in the Amplified version (which describes what the original language meant instead of using a single word to translate) so incredibly powerful.

I don’t want to hold on to hurts. I don’t want to spend my time mulling over things, small or large, that I have found offensive. I want to let it go- drop it- get over it. I realized I had a whole lot more unforgiveness in my life than I thought I did when I started processing this concept of “dropping it”. I didn’t want to become bitter, unhappy, angry, hopeless. I knew forgiveness was freeing to the forgiver as much as the person forgiven. I made a choice and recognized the need to every day, drop offenses and choose to reject those high imaginations and thoughts that lead to bitterness. Dropping it is work. It takes really deciding to let something go. No more concentrating on the faults or pain caused by someone else. But, it is so incredibly freeing.

I entreat you to doing some dropping in your own life. Doing so opens the door for God to do so much inside of you.

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